Curved side plate hydraulic press



Oct. 6, 1953 v J. A. MULLER 2,654,310

CURVED SIDE PLATE HYDRAULIC'PRESS Filed Oct. 22, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l 'F|G.| f [42 W x W 7A-- 36 ii: 28- 5 tg/ol 7% T1560, 56/ 561,; a r

JOHAN A. MULLER ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1953 J. A. MULLER 2,654,310

CURVED SIDE PLATE HYDRAULIC PRESS Filed Oct. 22, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 FIG.3 60

5 I x n 28 INVENTOR. JOHAN A. MULLER ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1953 MULLER 2,654,310

UR ED SIDE Filed Oct. 22, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f INVENTOR.

5} JOHAN A. MULLER ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 6, 1953 CURVED SIDE PLATE HYDRAULIC PRESS Johan A. Muller, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignor to Adamson United Company, Akron, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application October 22, 1949, Serial No. 122,977

Claims. 1

This invention relates to hydraulic presses, and, more particularly, is concerned with hydraulic presses including a press head and a ramcarrying cylinder supported in opposed relation by curved side plates formed to the curvature of the cylinder, and to improved methods for manu facturing presses of this type.

It has been the standard and usual practice in the manufacture of hydraulic presses to secure and support a ram-carrying cylinder and a head in opposed relation by means of fiat side plates, and this practice is not particularly objectionable when relatively low pressure operations are to be performed. However, when presses of heavy tonnage are constructed, the ratio of the unit'platen pressure to the unit hydraulic pressure can be no better than one totwo with the standard straight side plate type hydraulic presses. This makes the size of the press base as compared to the working area of the press platens relatively large.

I It has also been the practice, heretofore, to provide separately cast press heads and press beds which are connected together by tie bolts. Such tie bolts cause strain concentrations, are apt to interfere with the press openings if positioned for greatest mechanical strength, and casting and machining operations on the press head and bed are often complicated and expensive.

An improved press structure avoiding and overcoming at least certain of the prior art difliculties is disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,403,822,and an improved manufacturing method is described in my Patent No. 2,343,403. I have discovered still further improvements to the press structure and manufacturing method described in the aforesaid patents, and such improvements are the subject matter of this application; I

It is the general object of my invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior practices by the provision of an improved hydraulic press having curved side plates supporting the press head and ramcarrying cylinder whereby the ratio of unit platen pressure to theunit hydraulic pressure can be improved to the ratio of 1.5708 to two, for example, whereby the operating pressures of the press in comparison to its size are notablyimproved. Another object of my invention is the provision of a hydraulic press characterized by high operating pressures, unusually good safety factor strength margins, avoidance of strain concentrations, and simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction and maintenance. I

v substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Another Object of my invention is to provide an improved manufacturing method for hydraulic presses, and, particularly, curved side plates for hydraulic presses and emphasizing ease and'rapidity of manufacture, the use of a minimum,

number of parts, the use of uniform cross sec-. tion elements insuring sounder castings, reduction of deflection under load, and facility of align-,

ments of parts.

The foregoing objects of my invention, and

other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by the provision of a hydraulic press including a cup-shaped cylinder having a circular flange adjacent its top, a ram'slidably mounted in the cylinder, 2.

press head having diametrically opposed ,arcuate.

flanges adjacent its bottom, a pair of curved side plates, each extending through approximately ninety degrees and formed to the curvature of the cylinder and head, each side plate havinggrooves receiving the flanges of the head and cylinder to position the head and cylinder in opposed parallel relation, and means securing the lower and upper ends of the side plates in a locking relationship with the cylinder and press head respectively.

In accordance with the method of my inven-',

tion, four side plate quadrants are cast simultaneously, the side plates being connected during the casting operation, for example, by integral lugs to form a cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell is turned as a unit and surfaces are machined inside and outside the shell, whereupon the lugs are cut through to provide two pairs of curved side plates.

For a better understanding of my invention, I

reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein: I v

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line l-l of Fig. 4, and illustrating the construction of an improved hydraulic press incorporating the invention;

'Fig. 2 is a'plan View; partially broken away, of

the press of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is' a horizontal cross-sectional view taken" the numeral 10 indicates generally a hydraulic pressure cylinder of substantially cup shape, and slidably receiving a cylindrical ram l2. The cylinder I0 is preferably cast, and being of uniform; cross section, this insures sounder castings. 7 Lugs l4 may be cast on the inside near the bottom 01' the cylinder H), which lugs serve to support the ram l2 in its most downwardly position. Packing 16 is received in a suitable aperture in the cylinder l0, and a clamping ring l8, engaging with the packing I6, is secured by a plurality of adjustable screws 20 to the cylinder All iattoiroumferentiallv spaced points. The cylinder in is likewise formed adjacent its upper end with a circular flange or shoulder 22 adapted to be engaged by the side plates of the press, all in the manner hereinafter described in detail. Forts Illa and lob are provided ina hase portion ofthe cylinder 10 for passage of fluid'to anddischar e of fluid from the cylinder.

The numeral 24 indicates generally a press head tially square shape. In the form of the invention illustrated, the platen 5D is cast integrally with the ram and provides a square upper surface. Secured to the platen 50 are gibs 52 which are adapted to engage with the side edges of the side plates, which are appropriately machined to proride guides tor the movement of the :platen 50 andxam l2.

Positioned between the press head 24 and the plates or shelves 56, which usually are steam heatand-have ports 56a and 56b provided therein which is generally a casting, and which can be cast solid, or with a plurality of pockets EDI-light,- ening purposes. The press head in the embodiment .shown includes arcuate end ,portions of quadrant .extent and flat sides. The head is provided with diametrically opposed arcuatellanges 26 of quadrant extent, and the press head is adapted to be positioned with itslower'face'in opposedparallel relation to the .top surface of the cylinder It.

1110 support the cylinder I 0 and head 2 4., LI employ curved side plates,'indicated asa whole by the numeral 28, each side plate being or substantial l quadrant extent in plan view and 'being -termed with a groove 30 and .a shoulder 32 ior engaging with the flange 22 of the cylinder Ill, and with agroove 34 and a shoulder 35 .for en a ing with the flange 126 of the press head 24..

Aniimportant feature of the invention is that the inside curvature of each of the curved side Plates 28 corresponds to the outside curvature of. he-upperportion or the cylinder .Jlland the press.

head 24 whereby a yerypositive supporting a ctionby the side plates with respect to-the cylinde! .10 and press head 24 is achieved over .dia

metrically opposed portions and throughout substantially ninety degrees. In order to secure the side plates 28 in position, ca screws Ill may-be employed to fasten substantially the extreme upper end oIthe sideplates to the press'head. Thus.

the relatively short turning moment between.

the flangelfi and the shoulder 36, when the press is under load, is counteracted by the relatively long moment .arm of the screws ll]. .A cap plateagainst movement apart, and with the shoulders 32 and groove 30 in engagement with the circular flan e 22 by providing a bottom plate 49 upon which the lower ends of the side plates rest, (and with arcuate shoulders 48 of subtantially quadrant extent in plan view being secured .to er east integrally with the plate '45, the shoulders 48 engaging with the lower outside ends of the side plate 28 in the manner shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the moment arm from the lower ends of the side plates 28 to the interlocking shoulders 32 and circular flange 22 quite long, whereby any turning movement between the shoulders F32 and the circular flange 22, as occasioned .by the press loads, is overcome.

The ram l 2 has secured to its top, or cast intogrally therewith, a platen portion 50 of substanior passage of heating fluid to and from the shelves Slat lemstlthe center shelf having brackets i6 seemed to its ends, which brackets are adapted to engage with pins carried by the side plates 28 so at least the center shelf 56 is heldagainst moving downwardly beyond the positions illustrated, but is free to move upwardly. The gibs 52 maybe slotted, as at .62, to permit the passage of the gin overthegpins '60,. if

are \cast asa cylindrical shell indicated as a whole by the numeral 166. The cylindrical shell is adapted .to Joe .cut longitudinally at tour-spaced points .to provide two pairs, that four, of .quadrant-shaped side plates 28, and this may be achieved by coring slots 68 .into theshell. portions Ill cast .withthe shell wil-l hold-thez-qnad rants together so that the entire .shell be machined as a cylinder simultaneously in the areas to form .iac-ing or .iinished ,portions of the side plates, for example the-groove 3u,the.shou1- der .32, the groove 34,.andthe shoulder 35. After the cylindrical -shell 66 has been machined, the lugs lllarecut oil to form the curved .side plates 28.

From the .torego-ing, will :be recognised that the various obiocts of .-my invention have been achieved oy the provision of an improved rugged, relatively inexpensive, high pressure press having ami-nirnumoef zsize and-a minimum of arts. The ratio of the unit platen pressure to the unit laydraulic pressure is noticeably improved over a straight side plate press. lhe overall size of the press is smaller than a straight side plate press having same platen area and pressure. Deflections are less andbetter load distribution isobtamed-than conventional prior art presses. "and manufacturing :and :maintenance are simplified. The press of the invention provides relatively wide opening-s between the side plates for loading and unloading the press, 'andnmachining or the press parts and assembly are characterized 'by simplicity, easaandinexpensrveness.

While accord with the patent'statutes I have specifically illustrated and described one best known embodiment of the invention, and the method of manufacture thereof, it is .to be par ticularly understood that I am not to 'belimit'ed thereto or thereby, butthat the scope of my invention is defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A hydraulic press including a cup-shaped cylinder having an arcuate flange adjacent it's top, a ram slidably mounted in the cylinder, 'a' press head having curved ends and having diametrically opposed arcuate fla'nges of substan tially quadrant extent adjacent its bottom, a pair of curved side plates each extending through approximately ninety degrees and formed to the curvature of the cylinder and head, each side plate having grooves receiving the flanges of the head and cylinder to position the head and cylinder with their adjacent faces in an opposed parallel relation, a top plate and -a bottom plate for the press, and arcuate shoulder means of substantially quadrant extent associated with each of the top and bottom plates for securing the lower and upper ends of the side plates in a looking relationship with the cylinder and press head respectively.

2. A hydraulic press including a cup-shaped cylinder having an arcuate flange adjacent its top, a ram slidably mounted in the cylinder, a

press head having curved ends and having diametrically opposed arcuate-flanges of substantially quadrant extent adjacent its bottom, a pair of curved side plates each extending through approximately ninety degrees and formed to the curvature of the cylinder and head, each side plate having grooves receiving the flanges of the head and cylinder to position the head and cylinder with their adjacent faces in an opposed parallel relation, a top plate and a bottom plate for the press, and means associated with each of the top and bottom plates for securing the lower and upper ends of the side plates in a looking relationship with the cylinder and press head respectively.

3. A hydraulic press including a substantially circular cylinder and a head having portions of substantially arcuate shape, a ram slidably received in the cylinder for movement to and from the head, a pair of curved side plates engaging with diametrically opposed portions of the cylinder and head and supporting the cylinder and .head with their adjacent faces in a spaced substantially parallel relation, each side plate being curved to substantially the contour of the portions of the cylinder and head with which it engages and extending in such engagement through substantially a quadrant, interlocking shoulder means between the side plates and the cylinder and head, said shoulder means being positioned near the top of the cylinder and near the bottom of the head, and means engaging with substantially the extreme bottoms and substantially the extreme tops of the side plates for holding them against movement apart, and to hold the interlocking shoulder means in engagement.

4. A hydraulic press including a cup-shaped cylinder, a ram slidably mounted in the cylinder, a press head having portions of substantially arcuate shape, at least one of said portions being of substantially the same external diameter as one portion of the cylinder, a pair of curved side plates each extending through approximately ninety degrees and formed to the curvature of the common diameter portions of the cylinder and head, cooperating groove and flange means formed on the side plates and the cylinder and head to position the cylinder and head on the side plates with their adjacent faces in an opposed parallel relation, a top and a bottom plate for the press, and arcuate shoulder means on each of the top and bottom plates for securing the upper and lower ends of the side plates in looking relationship with the head and the cylinder respectively.

5. A hydraulic press as in claim 4 wherein the cooperating groove and flange means are spaced axially of the press from both the top and the bottom plates, and wherein the head and the cylinder have external portions of the same diameter snugly engaging the side plates.

. JOHAN A. MULLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,013,587 Stacy Sept. 3, 1935 2,062,043 Stacy Nov. 24, 1936 2,153,035 Burt Apr. 4, 1939 2,348,403 Muller May 9, 1944 2,384,161 Ernst Sept. 4, 1945 2,403,822 Muller July 9, 1946 2,417,697 Loomis Mar. 18, 1947 

